On December 16, 2025, President Trump issued a Proclamation revising and expanding the June 2025 travel ban (Proclamation 10949) that fully or partially restricted nationals of 19 countries from entering the United States.  The new Proclamation is effective January 1, 2026.

The new Proclamation fully restricts the entry of nationals from 19 counties: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The Proclamation also fully restricts entry of individuals using Palestinian Authority travel documents.  The full suspension applies to immigrants and most nonimmigrant categories.

Nationals from an additional 19 countries will be partially restricted from entering the United States: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  The partial suspension applies to immigrants and nonimmigrants in B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, J, and M status.  Immigrants from Turkmenistan are also restricted, though previous nonimmigrant restrictions are lifted.

The Proclamation applies to individuals who are outside of the United States and do not have a valid visa as of January 1, 2026.  Exceptions to the policy include lawful permanent residents (green card holders), dual nationals traveling on a passport from a non-restricted country, and certain diplomatic nonimmigrant categories, among others.  The government may also grant exceptions for persons whose travel to the United State would serve a national interest.

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The recent termination of the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has significant implications for US employers. As DHS revokes work permits issued under this program, employers must navigate new compliance challenges. In this Legal Update, we provide an overview of the CHNV parole program and its termination, outline the steps employers should take in response to revocations, and offer guidance for managing reverification obligations under federal immigration law.

CHNV Parole Cancelled: What the Rollback Means for Employers | Insights | Mayer Brown

The Trump Administration has announced a series of potential changes affecting student visas that could alter how US companies can recruit and retain foreign nationals, particularly those entering the workforce following study at US universities. These measures include: (1) applying additional scrutiny of Chinese student visas; (2) pausing all visa interviews for student and exchange visa applicants in preparation for expanded social media vetting; (3) restricting university enrollment in certain instances for international students; and (4) examining post-graduation work opportunities for foreign nationals. The International Student Talent Pipeline: Changes in US Visa and Work Authorization Policies | Insights | Mayer Brown

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The Department of Justice is increasing its focus on corporate immigration violations, including misuse of visa programs, and has expanded its whistleblower program to cover these issues.  New Targets, New Tactics: DOJ Whistleblower Program Focuses on Immigration Enforcement | Insights | Mayer Brown

WHAT IS ALIEN REGISTRATION?

The alien registration requirement dates back to 1940, when Congress passed a law to require all foreign nationals to register with the federal government, provide biographic details, and carry proof of their registration.1 In practice, however, many foreign nationals were unaware of this requirement, because the registration process effectively occurred automatically through routine visa issuance and when foreign nationals lawfully entered the United States at a port-of-entry and their arrival was recorded. The Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) served as proof of admission and registration. Additionally, those who were subject to the requirement, but were not automatically registered, had no direct way to register and meet their obligation. Always Carry Your Papers: Understanding the Alien Registration Requirement | Insights | Mayer Brown

On February 18, 2025, the US Department of State announced a new policy requiring more foreign nationals to attend in-person interviews to apply for nonimmigrant visas. 

The announcement rolls back a Biden Administration policy which had allowed visa applicants to qualify for the interview waiver program—and thus bypass the in-person interview requirement—if they (a) had been issued a nonimmigrant visa in any classification (except the B visitor visa category), and (b) were applying within 48 months of their most recent visa expiration date. From Waiver to Waitlist: Fewer Travelers Can Skip the US Visa Interview | Insights | Mayer Brown

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Attracting global talent will be key to maintaining US leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI). President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders aim to cut through barriers to accelerate AI development and amplify foreign investment to the United States to keep the nation at the forefront of this critical technology. Building the Future: Addressing the Need for AI Global Talent in the United States | Insights | Mayer Brown

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On February 5, 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a series of internal memoranda directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to implement policy priorities of the Trump Administration. The memos set immigration enforcement as a departmental priority, creating a high enforcement environment that impacts all employers. In this Legal Update, we examine these directives and affirmative steps employers can take to ensure preparedness. How Employers Can Navigate the Legal Ramifications of the DOJ’s New Directives for Immigration Enforcement

The Department of Homeland Security recently published a notice in the Federal Register, indicating that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the 2023 designation for Venezuela as of April 7, 2025. We examine what this means for employers and employees alike in this Legal Update. End of the Road: What the TPS Termination for Venezuelans Means for US Employers | Insights | Mayer Brown

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which directs federal agencies to recommend and implement enhanced vetting and screening for all foreign nationals intending to enter, or already present in, the United States. This order may reinstate and expand upon directives Trump issued during his first term, restricting travel to the United States by certain foreign nationals (sometimes referred to as a “travel ban”). Notably, in 2018, the US Supreme Court held, by a 5-4 majority, that the President has the authority to exclude foreign nationals when he determines that the entry would be detrimental to the United States. Executive Order Calling for Enhanced Screening and Vetting of Foreign Nationals | Insights | Mayer Brown